Method of applying fasteners to sheet like material



Feb. 23, 1937. J DEWS 2,071,507

METHOD OF APPLYING FASTENERS TO SHEET LIKE MATERIAL Original Filed April29, 1935 INVENTOR gyii iw /241141, i

I ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1937 METHOD OF APPLYING FASTENERS TO SHEETLIKE MATERIAL Joseph W. Dews, Waterbury, Conn, assignor t0 ScovillManufacturing Company, a corporation of Connecticut Original applicationApril 29, 1935, Serial No.

18,824. Divided and this application May 13,

1936, Seriai No. 79,539

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in methods of applying fasteningdevices to garments, or other materials, of which they are intended toform parts, and is a division of my co pending application Serial No.18,824, filed April 29, 1935. Although such methods may be used with awide variety of fasteners, and may be carried out by any one of a widevariety of tools, the novel features of the invention are particularlydesigned for use in making and securing garment fasteners to articles ofwearing apparel, and are herein disclosed in connection with theapplication of the stud element of a snap fastener of the ball andsocket type to a sheet of rubber or equivalent elastic material.

When utilizing the method of the present invention for applying fastenerelements to garments or the like, the parts of the fastener needcomprise nothing'more than a pair of loosely telescoping flangedelements which may, as a matter of convenience, be referred torespectively as a stud and an eyelet. The stud-entering end of theeyelet need not be sharpened and should be of a diameter somewhatsmaller than the opening in the stud, so that when the stud and eyeletare telescoped one within the other, with the elastic sheet materialbetween them, the part of the sheet material immediately overlying theentering end of the eyelet will be stretched and thrust into the openingin the stud, the loose fit between the eyelet and the stud being such asto aiford ample spacefor the elastic material to enter. When the eyelethas been forced into the stud to such a degree that its open enteringend is approaching the under side of the dome of the stud, the elasticmaterial which is stretched over the entering end is pierced. The lattermay be accomplished by means of a piercing tool, or, if desired, thedome of the stud may beso designed as to effect this result. In anyevent, the stretched rubber, after being pierced, extends around theperforation and is drawn backwardly towards the base of the eyelet so asto relieve the strain on the rubber and leave a large portion of theinserted end of the eyelet bare. The stud and the eyelet may then bepressed between appropriate anvils, one of which engages the stud, andthe other of which engages the base of the eyelet so as to cause theinserted end of the eyelet to be rolled outwardly around the flaringwalls of the mandrel into a clinching engagement with the surroundingportion of the stud which is nested within a recess in the part of theanvil which surrounds the mandrel. By thus forcing the eyelet into thestud and rolling its end into engaging relation with the inner part ofthe head of the stud, the flanges of the stud and eyelet may be broughtinto a close engaging relationship with the sheet material immediatelysurrounding the inserted part of the eyelet, which will have beenrelieved from anything in the nature of excessive strain and restored toapproximately normal condition after being perforated and before beingclamped between the flanges of the stud and eyelet so as to lie fiat andsmooth Without any puckers or wrinkles after the fastener has beenapplied.

The attached fastener as applied to the article on which it is to beused differs from known constructions of the prior art in that theelastic material, although no part of it has been cut out and removed,is drawn clear of the portion of the eyelet which is rolled into anengaging relation with the inner wall of the stud, and although clampedbetween the flanges of the stud and eyelet, the edge portion whichsurrounds the eyelet has no tendency to expand the walls of theprotuberant portion of the stud at its base since the designed loose fitbetween the stud and the eyelet is such as to provide space for theentrance of the stretched rubber when the eyelet is first thrust intothe stud and for the with drawal of the rubber surrounding the eyeletafter it has been perforated by the setting tool.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred form of theinvention,-

Figure l is a perspective view of a conventional form of snap fastenerstud.

Fig. 2 is a conventional form of eyelet which might be used in securingthe stud of Fig. l to a part of a rubber garment or other article ofsheet material. These two parts need not diifer from those commonly usedin the prior art other than that the portion of the eyelet intended toenter the opening in the back of the stud should be of slightly smallerdiameter than would ordinarily be used in order to allow the sheetmaterial to enter and be withdrawn.

Fig. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view through a stud, an eyelet, asheet of material to which the stud and eyelet are to be applied, aconventional form of anvil to be used in inserting the eyelet, and asetting tool for the stud comprising a pointed mandrel and anvilembodying the 0 hereindisclosed invention.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are similar cross-sectional views of the partsillustrated in Fig. 3, such parts being represented in differentpositions to which they are successively moved when applying the studand eyelet to the intervening sheet of elastic material.

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in axial cross section and partly inperspective, representing a snap fastener stud and eyelet secured to asheet of elastic material.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of fastener stud whichmay be used in practicing the invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of another modified formof the invention, the parts illustrated representing a fastener stud,eyelet and an intervening piece of sheet material, the stud having apiercing element extending downwardly from its inner upper surface.

Fig. 11 is a similar view of the same parts, the end of the eyelet beingrepresented as having been thrust into the stud and as having stretcheda part of the sheet material over its upper end.

Fig. 12 is a similar view of the same fastener parts, the eyelet beingrepresented as having been thrust farther into the stud to a positionsuch that further movement will cause the sheet material to bepunctured.

Fig. 13 is a similar view of the same elements, the fastener parts beingrepresented as having been secured to the sheet material.

As has already been explained, the stud illustrated by Fig. l is ofconventional form comprising the usual head 26, neck 2| and flange 22.Likewise, the eyelet may be of conventional form comprising a hollowcylindrical post 23, base 24 and flange 25.

The setting tool for the stud in accordance with the method of thepresent invention, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, may comprise a bodyportion 26 and a core 21 telescoped one within the other. The core maybe adjustably secured within the body portion in any appropriate mannerwith its lower end slightly above the lower end of the body portion. Inthe form of the invention herein disclosed the upper end of the core 2'!is slotted as at 28 and has threaded engagement as at 29 with the innerwall of the body portion so that by the use of an ordinary screw-driver,the position of the core within the body portion may be readilyadjusted, and, if desired, the core may be held in any such position ofadjustment, in any suitable manner, as by the use of a set-screw 30 inthe body portion having its end so positioned that it may be forced intoclamping engagement with the surface of the core.

The lower working face SE of the body portion of the setting tool shouldbe of a form such as to serve as an anvil for the flange of the stud,and the opening in the body portion of the tool which receives the core21 should be of a diameter such that its lower end may serve as a recessof a size adapted to receive the head of the stud.

At the center of the lower end of the core is a part which may beproperly referred to as a mandrel, having a pointed end as at 32 and anoutwardly flaring wall 33 of substantially conical form merging into anannular curved surface 34 which serves as an anvil for the head of a fastener stud during a setting operation.

The anvil 35 should have an upper working surface adapted to conformwith that of the base of the eyelet to be used in securing the stud toan intervening sheet of rubber or other elastic material 36.

The stud and eyelet illustrated in Fig. 3 may be secured to the sheetmaterial 36 by the use of any appropriate machine (not shown) adapted toforce the setting tool 26, 27 and anvil 35 to wards each other. Machinesoperated by hand power, foot power, and what are known as automaticmachines, adapted for use in thus securing fastener parts to sheetmaterial are well known in the prior art and need not be hereinspecifically disclosed.

The approximate relative movements of the parts of the fastener elementsand setting tools during a setting operation are illustrated in Figs. 4to '7, inclusive, it being understood, of course, that the relativedegree of movement of the different parts with respect to one anothermay vary to some extent and might not exactly conform with theconventional representation in the various figures of the drawing. InFig. 4 the stud is represented as having been moved into the recess inthe lower part of the setting tool with the center of its head incontact with the perforating point 32. In the same view the upper end ofthe eyelet is represented as having engaged and stretched the overlyingpart of the sheet of elastic material 36 and forced it into the openingin the base of the stud. In Fig. 5 the eyelet is represented as havingforced the stretched overlying elastic material to a position quiteclose to the under surface of the head of the stud, and the perforatingpoint of the setting tool is represented as having been thrust throughthe wall of the head of the stud to a position in which it is inreadiness to perforate the underlying portion of the sheet of elasticmaterial. In Fig. 6 the elastic material is represented as having beenperforated and the edges of the portion surrounding the perforation arerepresented as having been stretched outwardly sufiiciently to snap downtowards the base of the eyelet to the positions indicated at 31. Fig. 6.In this figure the eyelet is represented as having been thrust upwardlyto a position such that its entering end surrounding the flaring wall 33of the mandrel has been rolled over after making contact with the undersurface of the head of the stud, the flange 25 of the eyelet and theflange 22 of the stud approaching the positions in which they will clampthe elastic material 36 between them.

In Fig. '7 the setting operation is indicated as having been completed.The upper end of the eyelet and the adjacent portion of the head of thestud are represented at 38 as having been rolled into a clinchingengagement with each other by the flaring wall 33 of the mandrel andsurrounding wall 34 of the core 2'! of the tool. The flanges 22, 25 ofthe stud and eyelet are also represented as having been pressed intoclamping engagement with the portion of the sheet of elastic material 36surrounding the part through which the post of the eyelet has beeninserted.

Fig. 8 represents the stud and eyelet as having been attached to thesheet of elastic material and the setting tools withdrawn. It will beapparent that since the stretched portion of the sheet of elasticmaterial has been perforated and permitted to expand and slip downtowards the base of the eyelet, there will be no layer of interveningelastic material to interfere with the satisfactory clinching of theupper end of the eyelet in the head of the stud, and since the annularspace between the post of the eyelet and the inner wall of the stud issuch as to provide for a free movement of the stretched elasticmaterial, the part of the elastic material to which the fastenerelements are secured is permitted to return to a substantially normalcondition before it is clamped between the flanges 22, 25 of the studand eyelet, thus avoiding any wrinkling oi the surrounding material.

In Figs. 3 to '7, inclusive, the stud is represented as one having animperforate head which is perforated by the point 32 of the setting toolduring a setting operation. In Fig. 9 is illustrated a modified form ofstud having a centrally-disposed perforation 39 in its head throughwhich the point 32 of the setting tool may enter and then perforate theunderlying elastic material to which the stud is to be secured. Theperforation may be made with an ordinary drift-pin, and, if desired, theknurled burr may be removed before securing the stud to the article onwhich it is to be used. When using this preperforated form of fastenerelement it may be immediately thrust to a seated position in the recessin the setting tool, that is, to the position indicated in Fig. 6, atthe initial stage of the setting operation, illustrated by Fig. 4, withthe point 32 of the mandrel extended through the perforation in thefastener element in readiness to perforate the elastic material whenforced against it by the upper end of the eyelet as it is moved towardsthe position in which it is illustrated in Fig. 6.

The stud and eyelet or other fastening elements to which the inventionis applied may be made of any appropriate metal or alloy. If used onrubber, aluminum or some other non-copper content metal would serve as asatisfactory material for the fastener elements.

As already explained, the perforated fastener of the character of theone illustrated by Fig. 9 may be applied to the sheet material, on whichit is to be used, with the aid of the tool illustrated in Fig. 3,whether or not the inturned burr of metal surrounding the perforation 39has been removed. If the burr is permitted to remain, the form anddimensions of the mandrel may be such that the point 32 will extendbelow the burr and serve as a means of perforating the underlying sheetmaterial during a fastening operation before the sheet material isbrought into contact with the burr.

As distinguished from the form in which the invention has been presentedby Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, and the description thereof, Figs. 10 to 13,inclusive, illustrate in diagram a modified form in accordance withwhich the head of the fastener element represented as a stud has aportion of the fastener wall surrounding a centrally-disposedperforation in the head of the stud extended downwardly so that it mayserve as a means of puncturing sheet material when thrust into contacttherewith and not be dependent upon the use of a setting tool having apointed puncturing element to be thrust through the perforation.

In Fig. 10 is represented in diagram a stud having a head 20, neck 2|,flange 22 and perforation 39, conforming with the stud illustrated byFig. 9. There is also represented in Fig. 10 an eyelet having a post 23,base 24 and flange 25, similar to the one illustrated by Fig. 2. 36 ofthe diagram is representative of a piece of sheet material to which thestud and eyelet may be secured.

The stud illustrated in Fig. 10 is represented as having a portion ofthe metal wall of the fastener immediately surrounding the perforation39 turned inwardly so as to form a downwardlyextending tubularprojection 40, which might comprise the burr which would result from theuse of an ordinary drift-pin as the means of perforating the head of thestud, or the extension 40 might be formed in any other appropriatemanner. As will be shown, this burr or equivalent inwardly anddownwardly extended tubular portion of the fastener may serve as a meansof puncturing elastic sheet material when thrust into the fastenerelement by an eyelet during the operation of securing parts of thefastener to the material on which they are to be used.

In Fig. 11 the end of the eyelet post is represented as having beencaused to stretch the overlying portion of the sheet material 35 and ashaving thrust a portion of the material into the hollow portion of thestud.

In Fig. 12 the post 23 of the eyelet is represented as having beenthrust farther into the hollow part of the stud and the overlyingstretched portion of the sheet material is represented as having beenbrought into contact with the edge portion of the extension 40, so thatfurther movement of the post will cause the stretched sheet material tobe punctured.

In Fig. 13 the parts represented in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are illustratedas having been firmly secured together. It will be understood that thepuncturing of the stretched elastic material over lying the end of thepost, by a slight advance movement of the post from the positionrepresented in Fig. 12, will cause the punctured elastic material toslip over and down the wall of the post to a position near the base asrepresented at 31, Fig. 13. Following this puncturing of the stretchedelastic material and the drawing away of the material from the upperpart of the post of the eyelet, further telescoping movement of the studand eyelet causes the upper end of the post to be rolled outwardly aboutthe tubular extension 40 and downwardly along the inner walls of thehead of the stud to a clinching engagement with the stud head, asindicated at 38 in Fig. 13.

The puncturing of the stretched elastic material so as to permit theportion distorted by thrusting the post into the stud to be relieved ofstrain, and to permit the parts surrounding the post of the eyelet to berestored substantially to their normal condition before moving theflanges 22 and 25 of the stud and eyelet from the positions representedin Fig. 12 to the clamping position represented in Fig. 13, tends toprevent the wrinkling or puckering of the sheet material surrounding theattached parts of the fastening element.

The methods of the present invention are not intended to be limited tothe precise steps herein described, nor to use with the exact forms offasteners and tools herein illustrated, but should be regarded asincluding modifications and variations within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. The method of securing a pair of fastener elements, of dimensions andforms such that they may be loosely telescoped one within the other, toelastic sheet material, which consists in inserting one element in theopening in the other with the elastic material between them, thuscausing the material overlying and closely surrounding the end of theinserted element to be stretched and forced into the other, puncturingthe stretched elastic material underlying the exposed end of the outerelement so as to permit the part surrounding the puncture to be drawnback away from the inserted end of the inner element towards the planeof the surrounding body portion of the sheet material, and securing thetwo fastener elements together by pressing them towards each other in anaxial direction between a pair of anvils so as to thrust the insertedelement further into the outer element and thus cause the inserted endto be rolled into a clinching engagement therewith.

2. The method of securing a pair of fastener elements, of dimensions andforms such that they may be loosely telescoped one within the other, toelastic sheet material, which consists in inserting one element in theopening in the other with the elastic material between them, thuscausing the material overlying and closely surrounding the end of theinserted element to be stretched and forced into the other, thrusting apointed tool through the exposed end of the outer element and into theunderlying stretched elastic material so as to perforate the same and 20permit the part surrounding the perforation to be drawn back away fromthe inserted end of the inner element towards the plane of thesurrounding body portion of the sheet material, and securing the twofastener elements together by pressing them towards each other in anaxial direction between a pair of anvils so as to thrust the insertedelement further into the outer element and thus cause the inserted endto be rolled into a clinching engagement with the outer element in thespace surrounding the inserted end portion of the pointed tool.

3. The method of securing a pair of fastener elements of dimensions andform such that they may be loosely telescoped one within the other inaccordance with claim 1 in which the elastic material overlying theexposed end of the inner element is punctured by being brought intocontact with a downwardly projecting portion of the outer element.

JOSEPH W. DEWS.

